New names for classes in the ACO and LMEM series

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) not only organises the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, but also, through its subsidiary Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM), various racing series in sports car racing. These feature not only prototypes but also GT racing cars. Over the years, various designations for the individual racing classes have been introduced in these series – and so things gradually became somewhat confusing. But that is now a thing of the past, as a standardised system is being rolled out.

The World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) remains unaffected in any case. The Hypercar and LMGT3 categories will continue to compete there. The exception is the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which, as is well known, forms part of the FIA WEC. At the classic race at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France, LMP2 cars are also on the starting grid. These will now compete in the two categories LMP2 Pro and LMP2. To be classified in the LMP2 class, there must be at least one Bronze driver in the line-up. This is not required in LMP2 Pro. The European Le Mans Series will now also feature LMP2 Pro and LMP2. The Asian Le Mans Series will not introduce an LMP2 Pro class, but only LMP2. As is well known, however, Hypercars are now also competing in the Asian Le Mans Series.

LMP3 Sport follows a similar approach to class designation

The situation is similar in LMP3 racing, where there will now be LMP3 Pro and LMP3 classes. Here too, the rule applies: to be classified in the LMP3 class, there must be at least one Bronze driver in the line-up. This is not required in LMP3 Pro. Both classes compete in the Michelin Le Mans Cup and the Asian Le Mans Cup. In the European Le Mans Series, only the LMP3 class is included (i.e. including a Bronze driver).

Order is also being established in GT racing: the LMGT3 class competes in the FIA WEC and the European Le Mans Series (LMGT3 cars are fitted with, amongst other things, a torque sensor). In the Asian Le Mans Series, the Michelin Le Mans Cup and the Asian Le Mans Cup, the class will now be called GT3 (here, the cars race without a torque sensor).

“Le Mans has always been several races in one. Our task is to make each of these races easy to follow – whether you’re sitting in the stands, watching on a screen or on the other side of the world. A common language of names and colours, from Europe to Asia, serves precisely this purpose,” says Pierre Fillon (President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest).